AnhartLinkin
This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.
Brendon Jones
It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
Fatma Suarez
The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful
Maziun
This is the last movie of George Roy Hill – the director of "The Sting". It's a good farewell for him , since this is a funny movie . Chevy Chase is in good shape as the writer who struggles to write his first book. Madolyn Smith who plays his girlfriend is also good and very charming.It's one of those movies that will help you relax after a hard day . It reminds me a little of "Money pit" with Tom Hanks. It has the taste of typical 80's comedy - a lot is going on and the characters are colorful. I was either laughing , snickering or grinning through all the movie. I loved the jokes with the dogs. One can't stop , while the other can barely move . The small town has also few interesting characters : crazy postman , teenagers stealing road signs , weird old lady from antique shop. There is nice love/hate/love relationship between Chase and Smith . In the end the movie kinda becomes a little Christmas movie.Overall it's a very pleasant movie . I think it's underrated and deserves more attention. I give it 6/10.
Jessica Scull
I pulled this dusty VHS off the shelf today and felt a faint stirring of disgust. Never one to balk at a mystery, I sat down with my old pal IMDb to figure out why I had such an aversion to this movie when everything about this movie should add up to being a 10-star masterpiece for my tastes. Here are things I really love in movies, and that this movie has:1. Chevy Chase2. Light/slapstick comedy 3. 80s comedy 4. Fish-out-of-water story 5. "living the dream" plot 6. I can relate to it (we moved city-to-farm in real life) 7. Animal/outdoor humor 8. Beautiful settingThis should be the perfect movie for me. So what on earth is it that makes me so reluctant to like this movie? I finally figured it out: I don't actually LIKE any of the characters - everyone in this movie seemed so very mean spirited and just plain grumpy. There really wasn't anyone to "root for" at all. I didn't care whether they stayed in the town, stayed married, moved away, got divorced, or even abducted by aliens and never seen again 2/3 of the way through the movie? I really like movies that allow me to enjoy and feel for the characters - this one was very VERY lacking in that department.I'm glad I finally figured it out. Next time I pull that VHS off the shelf, I hope to remember exactly why I should put it right back up again.
annmason1
I like this movie a lot, and I do not like Chevy Chase, who cannot manage attempting to be "funny" in any of his movies without animal abuse. NOT FUNNY, Chevy! Madolyn Smith is wonderful. I agree with others that she is an underrated actress; she seems very natural and most likable.The chemistry between the two main actors is great. You buy that Andy Farmer is a couple of bubbles off center and that Elizabeth is along for the ride; she loves him but keeps her head amid the chaos of crushed expectations.One of my favorite parts is Elizabeth's predicament in having to read Andy's novel when she intended a different evening. Wives everywhere will identify with her hands-over-face tears when she is trapped between her support for her mate and the awfulness of his writing.Andy Farmer is a big lumbering Labrador Retriever of a character. He is all bounds and tale wagging and happy panting; until he meets the town folk who don't see themselves as dog toys. The citizens of Redbud just live their lives, lives grown odd through generations of isolation, no doubt, and they see no reason to change just because a happy puppy romps among them.I love the whole Christmas scenario...and the fact that smarter heads than Chase's opted to not let the ducks get shot out of the sky and drop at his feet. I'm sure that's what he would have suggested, like the cat in Christmas Vacation. George Roy Hill had much more depth than Chase and knew not to play this flick for sadistic cheap laughs; except, I just remembered, the scalded bird. Again, NOT FUNNY, Chevy!This movie would have been good with anyone in Chase's role; Smith carries the movie and several good male actors come to mind who could have handled the part of Andy Farmer well...with no mistreatment of animals at all!
conpethan
It had been quite a number of years since I had seen this. I just rented it again and I remember now why I had once thought it was so funny.OK, Chevy Chase is never going to win an Oscar. And for that matter, no comedy like this is ever going to garner the respect of anyone who calls themselves a critic, real or pretend.But I always allow myself to enjoy something even if it does not fit other people definition of 'good'. If we all didn't do that then there would not be very much variety in the world. I'm not one of the sheeple and I'm quite proud of it.Having said that; I like this movie and I don't give a rats rear posterior if anyone else does not.There a few scenes out there that can make me laugh as hard as when our hero decides the best way to remove a hook from the face of a fishing parter is to knock him out. Everybody in that whole town cracks me up.And you know, Chevy does act. He is not going to bring a tear to anyones eye, he isn't that kind of actor. But he can make you cry laughing now and then.Worth seeing. Go rent it again.
